Buy now, pay later helped fuel record holiday spending online in 2023, but now that those bills are coming due, consumers aren't sure how they'll pay them.
Because - and I feel like I need a shower after writing this - there’s a really, really profitable middle ground there of people who have indeed taken out those ten credit cards, horsed them to near their limit, but have enough income per month to cover key bills and the minimum payments per month on all of those credit cards… but with not enough income to make a dent in the actual balance to break out of the trap of being lumbered with debt.
Rich enough to be able to hold off the debt collectors every month, but poor enough to have little or nothing else left over every month.
You’re right. I do understand why people end up choosing to do that, but it feels like there’s been a “training” to spend a lot to show your status or simply “because you deserve it” and instead (just like mentioned in an answer above), school or family has not taught any financial sense and people jump on purchasing without a real clue (even though they think they do)
Because - and I feel like I need a shower after writing this - there’s a really, really profitable middle ground there of people who have indeed taken out those ten credit cards, horsed them to near their limit, but have enough income per month to cover key bills and the minimum payments per month on all of those credit cards… but with not enough income to make a dent in the actual balance to break out of the trap of being lumbered with debt.
Rich enough to be able to hold off the debt collectors every month, but poor enough to have little or nothing else left over every month.
You’re right. I do understand why people end up choosing to do that, but it feels like there’s been a “training” to spend a lot to show your status or simply “because you deserve it” and instead (just like mentioned in an answer above), school or family has not taught any financial sense and people jump on purchasing without a real clue (even though they think they do)